Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff Israel Hughes was shot and killed from ambush while returning from a still in a swamp area near Altoona.
He was ambushed as he was walking to his vehicle that he had parked a short distance away. He had just collected evidence and marked the location of the still to report it to the sheriff. Bloodhounds had traced the suspect's scent for three miles until they ran into a hornet's nest. His son, who had accompanied him, was the only witness to the shooting.
It is unknown if any arrests or convictions were ever made.
Special Deputy Sheriff Hughes was survived by his wife, and two children.
Survivors
Special Deputy Sheriff Hughes was survived by his wife, and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-138EC451- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Sheriff Hughes gave the Lake County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tavares community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Hughes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Israel Shepard Hughes is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lake County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Israel Shepard Hughes's cause is highlighted.
How Israel Shepard Hughes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Israel Shepard Hughes is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Israel Shepard Hughes was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Lake County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
